What it Takes to be a Professional Musician

What’ happenin kids,

We’re going to do things a little different in this blog. This will be your step by step guide to becoming a full time musician in Vegas. Even though the bulk of this info will be based here in Vegas, most of it will transfer universally. We’re going to learn everything from networking to dealing with asshole management. No fairytale bullshit here. This is what you need to know before you decide leave your family, quit you job and move hundreds of miles away from home to become a rockstar. The road is long and arduous and I’m gonna help you pack.

Lets start off with the most basic. The market here is tough and saturated. If you’re having trouble finding gigs at home, you’re going to have an even harder time here. You have to be on top of your game and hungry as hell. You come out here with mediocre talent and this city will chew you up and laugh in your face. You’ll find yourself workin a job and dodging calls from back home quicker than you can ask "Would you like fries with that?". So again, I can’t stress enough, do not come out here with weak game.

So you’ve brushed up on your scales, tightened your fills and its time to head out. What the hell should you bring with you? Your instrument, accessories, and two suitcases. The less you bring the easier it is to move around, and believe me, you’ll be moving around a lot. Get real comfortable on a couch before you get here, because that my friends will be your new best friend from day one. The easier it is for you to pick up and move, the longer you’ll last here. It may take weeks, months or years to lock into a solid gig where you can afford your own place, and being able to bounce around gives you a longer shelf life. Why don’t I just get a job in the meantime? It takes away from your focus. You didn’t make sacrifices to come out here a work a job. You came out here to become a musician. If you ever forget that, you will not make it. You’ll tell yourself, "I’ll just work this job to pay my bills and once I find a steady gig I’ll quit". Doesn’t work that way kids. Either you want to play music for a living, or you want to play music for a hobby. There is no in between.

I think you all have some things to think about. Lets start with that and get back into it next week.

Jeremy Cornwell

"The Road Ahead is a Journey
The Road Ahead is Long
But All the Struggle is worth it
When You Hear the Crowd Sing Your Song"